Rep. Davis calls for wider use of pay-for-performance bonuses

Rep. Tom Davis is urging the Office of Personnel Management to use pay-for-performance bonuses to help diminish the government's looming personnel crisis, especially as it affects IT workers.

In a letter to OPM director Kay Cole James, the Virginia Republican applauded the bonuses as a way to reward teams working on e-government projects [see story at www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/17928-1.html] and recommended expanding the approach to a governmentwide basis.

'This may be an effort that is worthy of some form of emulation in all government agencies,' said Davis, chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology and Procurement Policy. 'I am hopeful that Congress will fully fund this excellent concept, and I will be working with my colleagues to ensure its success.'

Davis added that government service can be improved only if workers are trained and retained. Providing performance bonuses would help keep the best workers, he said.